R. Takemura et al., MESSENGER-RNA EXPRESSION OF KIF1A, KIF1B, KIF2, KIF3A, KIF3B, KIF4, KIF5, AND CYTOPLASMIC DYNEIN DURING AXONAL REGENERATION, The Journal of neuroscience, 16(1), 1996, pp. 31-35
Mouse brain expresses multiple kinesin superfamily proteins (KIFs), wh
ich are involved in vesicle transport. The expression of KIFs is devel
opmentally regulated, and both the mRNA and proteins of KIF2 and KIF4
are expressed abundantly in the juvenile brain. To elucidate the role
of individual kinesin superfamily motor proteins during regenerative o
utgrowth of axons, we examined the mRNA expression of KIF1A, KIF1B, KI
F2, KIF3A, KIF3B, KIF4, and KIF5 in adult mouse dorsal root ganglion c
ells after sciatic nerve crush. Seven to fourteen days after the nerve
crush, the mRNA expression pattern of neurofilament and beta-tubulin
isotypes suggested that the regenerative outgrowth of axons was active
. At these stages, levels of mRNA for KIF1A, KIF1B, KIF2, KIF3A, KIF3B
, KIF4, and KIF5 were 50-80% of control. The levels of mRNA for KIF4,
which are detected in juvenile brain but not in the adult, were under
the detection limit in both control and regenerating dorsal root gangl
ion cells. Because mRNA of neither KIF2 nor KIF4 increased significant
ly, the results suggest that the gene expression of KIFs during regene
ration does not recapitulate the embryonic development and support the
hypothesis that different series of events take place during the rege
nerative and embryonic outgrowths of axons. In contrast, mRNA for cyto
plasmic dynein was slightly increased, up to 140%. This is consistent
with the hypothesis that retrograde transport plays critical roles in
regeneration such as the transport of neurotrophic factors.